Moment With The Master
“Signs of Conversion”
Categories: Moment With The Master"Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed." (Acts 19:19-20)
Strange and marvelous things occurred during Paul’s ministry in Ephesus. For two years he taught in the school of Tyranus, and the word of God spread through all of Asia. Paul did extraordinary miracles including curing those possessed with evil spirits. When Jewish priests attempted to imitate Paul, an evil spirit jumped on the impostors and seized them! This prompted many in Ephesus to honor the name of Jesus and to publicly burn their books of sorcery.
Ephesus was a chief seat of black magic during this time. It was popular to engage in these pretentious “supernatural” acts. Magicians and astrologers swarmed the streets with a profitable trade of charms, divinations, and rules for interpreting dreams. By destroying these books the people publicly acknowledged the sinfulness of such practices.
Accepting Jesus means giving all of our life to him. Paul commends the Thessalonians for such action: For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God. (I Thessalonians 1:9) The Christian must learn to completely trust in the living God, and not in the useless idols of the world.
Receiving Christ requires giving up all that is hateful to him. How can we say we love Jesus and not shun the devices and deeds that are painful to him? Jesus demands radical surgery: If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. (Matthew 5:29) This involves turning our backs upon all that is unholy and impure. Old cherished values are abandoned no matter what the cost!
Those lives who are truly converted will have a profound influence upon the neighborhood. So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed. (Acts 19:20) This public display got the attention of the people. There is no better way to win others to Christ than by living examples of the gospel’s power. When the world witnesses Christians denying worldly pleasure it can be attractive!
By this marvelous deed the Ephesians removed the temptations that could cause a possible relapse on their lives and opened doors for others to receive Christ!
By George Slover
